Installation Building Codes and Plumbing Standards
In addition to the council and state approval requirements for a greywater treatment or diversion system, there are also building codes and plumbing standards which need to be addressed when installing a greywater system. Not all standards will apply to all systems.
Plumbers and qualified system installers should be familiar with these codes and standards. There is guidance from the Master Plumber and Mechanical Services Association of Australia, in a report developed by them for the National Water Commission, on the requirements for the installation of rainwater and greywater systems in Australia.
- National Water Commission requirements for the installation of rainwater and greywater systems in Australia
- Master Plumbers Association Handbook on rainwater tank design and installation (2.54MB)
- Master Plumbers Association Handbook on greywater design and installation (2.45MB)
These have also been published by Standards Australia as Handbooks:
Building codes
ABCB 2007 - Building Code of Australia
AS/NZS 2003b - AS/NZS 3500, Plumbing and Drainage Code
SAI Global 2003 - Product Certification. Product Compliance Program WATERMARK Level 1.
AS/NZS 1998 - AS/NZS 1546.1:1998 On-site domestic wastewater treatment units - Septic tanks
AS/NZS 2001a - AS/NZS 1546.2:2001: On-site domestic wastewater treatment units - waterless composting toilets
AS/NZS 2001b - AS/NZS 1546.3:2001: On-site domestic wastewater treatment units -Aerated wastewater treatment systems
AS/NZS 2003a (2008 draft released for public comment - AS/NZS 2008 Draft) - AS/NZS 1547:2000 or 2008 On-site domestic-wastewater management
AS/NZS 1994 - AS 1319-1994: Safety signs for the occupational environment
AS/NZS 1996 - AS 2700-1996: Colour Standards for general purposes
AS/NZS 1995 - AS 1345-1995: Identification of the contents of pipes, conduits and ducts
State plumbing codes
Most states/territories in Australia use AS/NZS 3500 as a plumbing standard and have additions to this code, whereas NSW has developed its own codes based on modifications from AS/NZS 3500. Different states/territories also use different versions of AS/NZS 3500.